Cycle driving mechanism.



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No. s29,|77. v 1. Patented my la, |899.

i Y A. P. STEPHENS. y

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[Ayplicntion 6186 B7, 1897.) :No Modal.: 2 Shania-Sheet I.

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A. P. STEPHENS. .cYcLE nmvins nscmmsl. (Appumm am n, s1, 1897 (lo Nudel.) 2 Sheets-SMM '2.

' icatiom NiTED7STATEs i I EEICE.

NsoN P. STEPHENS, or NEW Yoan, N. r,

CYCLE DRIVING lvliacl-l-Muslvl.A

sPEurFIcATIoN 'fo'immg part of Letfer'sratent No. 629,1?7, dated .my 18, 189e. Application filed December27, llli. Serial No. 663,485. (No model.)

T all whom t #my concern: Be it .known that I, ANsoNP. STEPHENS, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city, county, and State of New York, have invented au Improvement in Cycle Driving Mechanism, of which the following is a speci- This improvementrelates to the drivingV i mechanism Aapplied to the front wheel of the cycle, it being preferable with this improvement to mount the front wheel in a rigid frame-fork and to mount the rear wheel in a fork and steering-head, so that the cycle can -be guided by the rear Wheel; but'the'driving mechanism is not necessarily limited to a cycle of this character, as the same might be apapplied to a front wheel in a steering-fork or the shaft ofa cycle. f

In thisimprovement the axleand hub of the front wheel are rigidly connected and pinions are provided upon the axle, The frame-fork is provided with a rigid axle-.box surrounding the ball-bearing of the axle and having a ange that supports ystuds receiving intermediate pinions gearing to the axle-pinion, and around this range of pinions is an internal gear-ring and a surrounding clamp-strap connected at its ends to a kfoot-lever pivoted upon a case surrounding the gear-ring and pinions, so that when the Yfoot-lever is depressed the clamp-strap holds the internal gear-rin g and gives the same a partial revolution, turning the driving-wheel through the axle, pinion, and intermediate gears,.and the foot-lever is raisedand releases the clampstrap, so that the part-s may continue to move with the driving-wheel, as themotion may be maintained by the depression of the foot-lever at the other side of the wheel, these movements being repeated alternately.

In the drawings, Figure lis a sectional elevation representing thev case, the internal gear, the clamp-strap, and the foot-lever.

Fig. 2 is a vertical ksection at the line 2 2 of Fig. l. Fig. 3 isa cross-section at the line 3 3 of Fig. 2; 'Figi lis a partial plan view'show-V character,` either rigid .with the main frame or adapted l,to be t'urn'ed'in steering. A portion of this frame is shown at A, and at thelower end of the fork, at each side, is an axle# box ,B,.this axle'- box tbeing tubular to Apass through an eye at the lowerend of the frame# f fork, in which position vit is firmly secured by a nut j4,'whichg.is' advantageously provided with. a dust-.guard and `felt -ring F3, setting closely around the tubular axle of the wheel.

The'hubE is of any desired character and provided with flanges or other devices for the spokes of theV wheeh'and such hub has a tubular center to receive the axle G, which axle is preferably madein two parts, so as to be inserted from the ends into the hub, and the tube of the hub is split, as shown in the crosssection, Fig. 3, and'receives through ears the clamp-bolt H', by which the axlek is firmly clamped within the tubular hub, anda setscrew 37 is preferably provided, as shown in Fig. 3, passing into a groove or hole in the axle, whereby the axle and hub are firmly connected and rotate together. It is also advantageous to Hatten the axle at one side, as shown, so as to lessen the risk of the axle turnlingor becoming loose in the hub.

' Upon the shaft of the cycle or upon the end of the axleA is a pinion 5, and such axle is screw-.threaded behind the pinion to receive thebearingl-rings S and lock-nuts 9, andthe balls 6 are between these bearing-rings 8 and the grooved,` bearingring 7, that is screwed within the vstationaryaxle-box B. By this means the axle, and wheel are reliably supported within the stationary axle-box,"and the parts can be adjusted to allow for wear by screwing one or both rings 8 toward the other and preventing them turning by setting up the lock-nuts.

Y The stationary axle-box B is made with a front Bange, receiving through it the studs 10, supporting the intermediate pinions F, and the internal gear-ring G surrounds theintermediate pinions F, the teeth of the pinious and ring interlocking, and it is advantageous to support the intermediate pinions F by ballbearings,the opening in' 'each pinion being grooved for the balls ll, and the` collars l2 being upon the studs 10 at opposite sides of the balls, and the studsxlO are conical or tapering, so that by adjusting the collars l2 IOS) wear may be compensated, and lock-nuts are provided at the ends of the studs, and the studs 10 being screwed into the flange can be screwed out and locked by the nuts as the parts may wear.

In order to hold the internal gear-ring in position around the intermediate pinions F, it is advantageous to provide such internal gear-ring with guide-flanges G', projecting inward and coming at opposite sides of the intermediate pinions. I have represented the ring G as screw-threaded internally at each side of the teeth of such internal gear, so that the guide rings or Ilanges G are screwed into the ring G, which is convenient for allowing the teeth of the internal gear-ring to be properly cui; but one or both of these `guideflanges G' may be made integral with the internal gear-rin g.

The case H surrounds the axle-box, the gearing, and the internal gear-ring, and this case has a removable cap H2, and this case receives a turning motion backward and forward around the stationary axle-box, and in order to support this case in position and lessen friction ballbearings are advantageously employed, the outer ball-bearings 13 in tervening between the cap Hzand the conical end of the axle C and the inner ball-bearings 14 intervening between the axle-box B and the inner opening of the case, and it is advantageous to construct these ball-bearings so that they may be adjusted. ball-bearing is represented with a screw-ring within an annular liange upon the inside of the cap H2, and this screw-ring can be adjusted to compensate wear and held in position by a screw or pin I, and the inner ballbearing 14 is provided with a screw-ring passing into the opening in the case II, the surface of which ring is conical to press upon the balls of the ring, and this ring has a ange extending nearly to thc exterior cylindrical surface of the axle-box B, as vrepresented at 15, and a ring of felt or similar material F3 may surround the stationary axlebox and Iit the interior of the ring-flange 15 for excluding dust, and there should be a movable screw or pin passing through the iange 15 into the axle-box to prevent the ringtlange unscrewing.

The case Il is made with an opening in the upper and forward part, receiving into it the forked end K of the foot-lever K, and the pivot-pins 17, projecting from the foot-lever, pass into or through holes in the case II and cap H2, respectively, and this foot-lever can be inserted or withdrawn from the case when the screws J, that hold the cap H2, have been removed. The cover of the case may be secured in any desired manner. I have represented a ringJ, that is screwed within the case and receives into it the screws J2, which are additional to the screws J near the pivot of the lever. I

There is a space between the cylindrical portion of the case I I and the internal gear- The outerring G, into which is received the clampingstrap L, the ends of the clamping-strap terminating as eyes within the fork K of the foot-lever, and the cross-pins 18 pass through .K of the foot-lever that the swing of the footlever upon its pivots in one direction engages `the clamp-strap to the internal gear and disengages the same by the swing in the other direction.

It is advantageous to provide dust-guards at 2O to close the opening in the case through which the fork of the foot-leverpasses. These dust-caps may be of any desired character. Ihave represented the guard 2O as segmental plates connected with the lever-fork and overlapping the segmental surfaces of the case II and the guard 21 as fastened upon the case and passing between the fork of the foot-lever. I also provide a forked guide 16 upon the case H, between which the foot-lever K is received and in which forked guide the lever swings and the guide prevents undue strain upon the pivots of the lever by any lateral pressure from the foot, and upon the outer end of the foot-lever a suitable treadle M is provided and preferably having a toe-clamp, so that the pedal can be lifted by the toe-clamp as the foot is raised, and the reverse or downward movement of the pedal and foot-lever gives motion to the driving-wheel in consequence of tightening the clamp-strap L and causing the same to turn the internal gear G as the lever, case, clam p-strap, and intern al gear are turned together and partially revolve around the fixed axle-box, and during this movement the teeth of the internal gear, turning the intermediate pinions F, give a motion to the axle-pinion 5 and axle C, which is accelerated in proportion to the size of the axlepinion, because in this movement the studs 10 of theintermediate pinions remaining stationary the axle-pinion 5 will recieve a inoti-on corresponding to the number of teeth in the internal gear G that are moved forward each action of the foot-lever.

The before-described parts are easily con structed and can be put together or taken apart with convenience, and there is but little friction, and the stroke or rise-and-fall 1n otion of the foot-lever can be regulated according to the convenience .of the rider, and when desired a spring P may be provided `between the foot-lever and the frame-fork for raising the foot-lever and giving the return motion to the case; but where a toe-clamp is ICO IIC

Y provided for the pedal this spring may be dispensed with. It is also advantageous topro- .vide a spring `Q between the case H and a clip upon the foot-lever K, so as to insure the proper turning movement of the case as the foot-lever rises.

It is advantageous to limit the turning movement given by the foot-lever to the case and the parts within the same, and with this object in view a stop N is provided on the case H, projecting rearward, and upon vthe framework A a stop O is provided, against which a stop N is arrested, and this stop O is advantageously mounted upon a plate 22,' slotted near its' ends and receiving the bolts 23, that pass through the framework A for holding the stop O in positionand for allow-V ing such stop to be adjusted in one direction or the other to lengthen or shorten the stroke ot' the foot-lever and the parts moving with the same.

It will nowbe understood that when the foot-leversareV relieved from pressurethe internal gear-ring G is free to turn along with the pinions as the driving-wheel may revolve' `in coasting or otherwise, because the direction of rotation ot' the ring Gwill tend to loosen the clamp-strap L, and when the footlevers are held'by the feet and more or less pressure applied to them the clamp-strap L acts as a brake upon the internal gear-ring and through the gearing upon the drivingwheel, so that the speed ot' the cycle can be regulated'at will, it being of course borne in mind that too much pressure should not be quickly applied to the foot-levers, tending to stop the cycle too suddenly.

. In instances where aspeed-gearing has been applied to the front wheel for driving the same and cranks are made use of it has been necessary for the rider to sit sufficiently for-` ward to keep the feet upon the cranks when they are in front ofthe crank-shaft, and this throws the principal weight upon the front wheel, causing the tire to wear faster than the rear wheel, but by the present improvement the foot-levers extending to the rearof Y the front axle and simply moving up and where the pedal is outside of the crank-arm,

and the feet can move comparatively nearthe sides of the front wheel without risk of coming into contact with the same, as is the case where foot -levers have been employed for. driving the rear wheel, in which case the rider has to be sufficiently behind the front wheel to allowr the front wheel to be turned in steering the cycle. l

Ido not limit myself to any particular connection for giving motion to the internal gearring by the downward movement of the footlever, as I have devised other means which form vthe subject of a separate application, and I remark that the stops engaging each other prevent the case being revolved beyond the desired point, and when the motion is arrested the pressure of `the foot can be regulated with facility in applying the brake.

When it is desired' to limit the movement of the toot-lever in releasing the clamp-stra p, the adjustable stop 24 upon the lever may be used to come into contact with the stop 25, fastened to the case above said stop 24.

I claim as my inventioni l. The combination with the cycle-wheel and its hub, of an axle secured to the hub and having a'pinion on the axle, an axle-box fastened to the frame and surrounding the bearing of the axle, studs supported by the axlebox, intermediate pinions upon said studs enaginfr the axleinion an internal Gear-rinr. D b 3 b b surrounding the pinions, a case surrounding the axle-box and gearing, and adapted to receive a turning motion, a lever pivoted upon 'the case and means for connecting the lever and the 'internal gear upon the downward movement of the lever and for allowing them to separate upon the upward movement of the lever, substantially as set forth.

t 2. The combination with the box, the axle and the Vpinion thereon and the ball-bearing between the axle and the box, 0i studs supported by the box, pinions onthe studs, an internal gear-ring around the pinions, a case surrounding and inclosing the gearing and having a cover extending across the end of thek axle,ballbearings upon the inner side of the cover and receiving and supported by the end of the axle and means for giving motion to the case andthe inclosed gearing, substantially 'as set forth.

3. The combination with an internal gearring, the Wheel, axle, pinion and intermediate gears, ot' alever and means for intermittently'engaging therewith the internal gearring and a case upon which the lever is pivoted, such case being adapted to turn aroundv the axle by the action of the lever, substantially as set forth. i

4. The combination with the cycle-wheel and its hub and the frame, of an axle secured to the hub and having a pinion on 'the axle, an axle-box fastened to the frame and surrounding the bearing of the axle, studs supported by the axle-box, intermediate pinions upon said studs engaging the axle-pinion, an

internal gear-ring surrounding the pinions and having guide-anges at opposite sides of the pinions, a case surrounding the axle-box and gearing and adapted to receive a turning motion, a lever pivcted upon the case and means for connecting the lever and the inter- IOO IOS

IIO

nal gear upon the downward movement of the lever and for allowing them to separate upon the upward movement of the lever, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination with the front wheel and its huh and the frame-fork, of an axle secured to the hub and having a pinion on the axle, an axle-box fastened to the framefork and surrounding the bearin g of the axle, studs supported by the axle-box, intermediate pinions upon said studs engaging the axle-pinion, an internal gear-ring surrounding the pinions, a case surrounding the axlebox and gearing and adapted yto receive a turning motion, a lever having a forked end 4pivoted upon the case,a clamp-strap within the case and surrounding the internal gear and connected at its ends to the fork of the lever for turning the internal gear bythe downward movement of the lever and for releasing the f internal gear upon the upward movement of the lever, substantially as set forth.

G. The combination with the front wheel and its hub and the frame-fork, of an axle secured to the hub and having a pinion on the axle, an axle-box fastened to the framefork and surrounding the bearing of the axle, studs supported by the axle-box, intermediate pinions upon said studs engaging the axlepinion, an internal gear-ring surroundin g the pinions, a case surrounding the axle-box and gearing, and adapted to receive a turning motion, a lever having a forked end pivoted upon the case, a clamp-strap within the .case and surrounding the internal gear and connected at its ends to the fork of the lever,l

and an adjusting-coupling for varying the length of the clamp-strap, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination with the front wheel and its hub and the frame-fork, of an axle secured to the hub and having a pinion on the axle, an axle-box fastened to the framefork and surrounding the bearing of the axle, studs supported by the axle-box, intermediate pinions upon said studs engaging the axlepinion, an internal gear-ring surrounding the pinions, a case surrounding the axle-box and gearing and adapted to receive a turning motion, a lever having a forked end pivoted upon the case, a clamp-strap within the case and surrounding the internal gear and connected at its ends to the fork of the lever for turning the internal gear by the downward movement of the lever and for releasing the internal gear upon the upward movement of the lever, dust-guards upon the lever at its fork where the same passes through the opening in the case, and a forked guide upon the case for receiving the lever, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination with the front Wheel and its hub and the frame-fork, of an axle secured to the hub and having a pinion thereon, an axle-box fastened to the frame-fork and surrounding the bearing of the axle, studs supported by the axle-box, intermediate pinions upon said studs engaging the axle-pinion, an internal gear-ring surrounding the pinions, a case surrounding the axle-box and gearing and adapted to receive a turning motion, a lever having a forked end pivoted upon the case, a clamp-strap within the case and surrounding the internal gear and connected at its endsto the fork of the lever for turning the internal gear by the downward movement of the lever and for releasing the internal gear upon the upward movement of the lever, a spring between the lever and the case for aiding in moving the case upon the return motion of the lever, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination in a cycle of a gearring, a driving-wheel and axle, gearing between the same and the gear-ring, a leverand a case upon which the lever is pivoted and stops to arrest the movement of the lever, and frictional mechanism for intermittently connecting the lever and gear-ring or for applying a friction to the gear-ring to act as a brake, substantially as set forth.

lO. The combination in a cycle of a gearring a driving-wheel and axle and gearing between the same and the gear-ring, a lever and a case upon which the lever is pivoted, a strap for intermittently connecting the lever and gear-ring, and stops to arrest the movement of the lever and cause such lever and strap to act as a brake, and a spring acting to move the lever and the parts therewith connected in the opposite direction to that given by the person to release the brake and to returnthe parts to a normal position, substantially as set forth.

ICO

Signed by mc this 22d day of December,

ANSON P. STEPHENS. lVitnesses:

Guo. T. PINOKNEY, S. T. HAVILAND. 

